Tigers tear up Dinos at 2008 homecoming game

The struggles continue for the Carbon High Dino football squad as they hosted the Ogden Tigers for their homecoming game. The Tigers didn't respect the homecoming festivities and took control of the game with a 49-0 win over Carbon.

Even with all his years of coaching experience this loss affected Coach Leo Paur to the core. Despite it all, the first thing he wants the public to know is that he is not giving up on either this year's team or for the long haul. With coaching changes happening to Carbon almost every year for a while now, he realizes that this is a process that will take some time.

"I have never looked into my kids eyes, in all my years of coaching, and seen the fear of losing in them before a game. But that is what it seems like we are facing. It is more than what a lot more practicing will fix. We have to find a way to get them to believe and commit to the game."

Right now Carbon is relying heavily on sophomores to fill in the gaps.

Paur is worried that this is a lot to ask for kids just coming into their own to face squads heavily packed with seniors and juniors from the other teams.

"We just can't base our team on that and be successful. Their gritty, but over matched," he stated.

Paur's next year's goal is to try and establish a sophomore team, even if it only has 11 players.

He would like to approach the junior high coaches to actually establish a Sophomore Freshman team. He knows there are two strong junior high programs and feels like drawing the freshman in to play on a soph/fresh squad would help in the building of the Carbon program.

Long term, he has set his sights on region championship in the next three years and a state championship in five. Immediately his goal is to get wins for this year's team and he still believes they can do it.

"We are a better team than how we are playing right now. We have to kick the losing tradition and start a new winning one."

Paur also echoed the feelings of past three coaches as they struggled with their losing seasons and that is that the kids and parents need to evaluate their dedication to the program in general. He has not had one practice where his entire squad has shown up.

As the team prepares to face Emery down in Castle Dale this Friday night, they have to face one more obstacle. They can't practice on their home field due to repair work being done on the track.

Friday night will be a big test for the team as Coach Paur spent much time with them on Monday reviewing films of the latest loss and trying to get them to rethink their attitude about what they can achieve.